A MAN was rushed to hospital with suspected rib and spine injuries after falling three metres from a house boat.

The emergency services rushed to the shore after the man fell from the boat.

A fire crew from Leigh and the Canvey Coastguard attended at Dauntless Boat Yard off Canvey last night after a man slipped and injured himself while climbing off a house boat.

It happened near Canvey Road at 9.17pm at the quay at Benfleet Yacht Club as he fell onto a boat moored alongside from a considerable height.

The man was then rescued by hovercraft, moved back on to the boat and left in the care of the ambulance service.

The Canvey Coastguard team were called out to assist the East of England Ambulance Service.

The coastguard officer in charge, East of England Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and Essex Fire and Rescue Service formulated a plan to safely and quickly extricate the casualty using the RNLI Hovercraft from Southend to transfer the patient from the boat to the Hovercraft then onto land.

A Canvey Coastguard spokesman said: "This was a challenging and demanding rescue, but thankfully the professionalism shown by all of the emergency services involved allowed us to work together for a successful outcome. 

"Remember, if you, or anyone else is in danger in the sea, coast or marina call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

The ambulance service has been contacted for comment.